Suspect Of 1991 Murder Of Sealy Woman Captured In Mexico

(Sealy. Texas) – The suspect in the 1991 murder of a Sealy woman has been captured in Mexico thanks to the collaboration of local, federal, and Mexican authorities.

On the morning of May 5, 1991, officers from the Sealy Police Department were dispatched to 1241 N. Circle Drive, Stephen F. Austin Motel, for a homicide investigation. The arriving officers located the body of 35-year-old Brenda Smith who had been stabbed multiple times. In 1991 the investigation identified Blas Tierrablanca as the suspect and a Murder warrant was obtained for his arrest. Tierrablanca was able to elude police and cross the United States border into Mexico where he is believed to have lived for the last 26 years.

In 2016, the Sealy Police Department reexamined the case in an attempt to locate Tierrablanca and bring him to justice.

In July 2017, the FBI’s Bryan Resident Agency obtained a Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution (UFAP) warrant signed by a federal magistrate judge in the Southern District of Texas. The FBI also issued an up to $20,000 reward for information leading to Tierrablanca’s arrest.

With the assistance of the Austin County District Attorney, the FBI’s Bryan and Mexico City offices, the Department of Justice, and Mexican Authorities, Blas Tierrablanca was captured last week in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico just across the border from Del Rio, Texas.

Tierrablanca is now in the custody of Mexican Authorities. The Department of Justice will work with Mexican authorities authorities to have Tierrablanca extradited to the United States to stand trial. Sealy Police Department will continue to work for Justice for the family of Brenda Smith and all victims and families of crimes.